Los Angeles history

Russians Attack Chinese Embassy; Dodgers or Padres? March 8, 1969

President Nixon presents three soldiers with the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam.

UCLA over USC 61-55 in double overtime.

You couldn't blame The Times for paying attention to the expansion
San Diego Padres. After all, it looked like the Dodgers had opened a
branch office in Mission Bay.

"There were players named Podres and Ferrara," Ross Newhan wrote.
"There were coaches named Craig and Moon. There was a manager named
Gomez. There was a radio man named Snider and a baseball fan named
Bavasi."

Johnny Podres, Duke Snider and Roger Craig brought connections to
the Brooklyn years. Al Ferrara and Wally Moon were part of the early
seasons in Los Angeles. Preston Gomez was a longtime Dodger coach
before being hired by Buzze Bavasi, the former Dodger general manager
building his own team in San Diego.

"I used to sit in the clubhouse and when the door opened I knew that
a Koufax or Drysdale would walk in," Podres said. "Now the door opens
and generally I don't even know the guy's name."